What Horses Can Teach Us About Healing

“I’m not angry with them, just the world sometimes.”
These words, spoken by a veteran, echo something many of us feel: pain that doesn’t always have a name, and that pain doesn't live in isolation. It affects our partners, our children, our sense of who we are in the world.

What if healing didn’t begin with words... but with a horse?

A New Way to Heal

A recent study from the University of Calgary explored a program in Alberta where veterans and their families worked with horses — not to ride them, but to interact, observe, connect, and rebuild broken lines of communication.

The results?

· Veterans reconnected emotionally with their children.

· Spouses reported new understanding — not only of PTSD, but of each other.

· Children realized they weren’t alone.

One participant said:

“This was a place to let my guard down, take a deep breath, and really see how my family is doing.” Another described it in one word: “Soothing.”

Why Horses?

Horses don’t talk, they listen. They don’t judge, they respond. Because they’re prey animals, horses are finely tuned to non-verbal signals: body language, heart rate, nervous system cues. They respond not to what you say, but to how you show up. That’s why equine-assisted workshops can be so powerful — not just for veterans, but for anyone feeling disconnected, stuck, or overwhelmed.

You don’t have to explain everything.
You just have to be willing to be present.
The horse will meet you there.

From Study to Real Life: Our Workshops

You don’t need to be a soldier to carry invisible wounds.
You don’t need a diagnosis to crave reconnection.
You just need a quiet place, a wise animal, and a chance to slow down.

At Horses & Humans, we offer small-group workshops in nature that draw on the same principles explored in this study:

· No riding — just grounded connection.

· No pressure — just presence.

· No judgment — just reflection.

Whether you're coming as a couple, a family, a group, or on your own, our workshops are built to gently help you:

· Understand what’s really going on inside you

· Feel more grounded and clear

· Begin repairing what matters most

The Science Is Catching Up to What We’ve Felt All Along

This isn’t just a feel-good story, it’s backed by research, real families, and real change. The Can Praxis program is now government-funded. The results are undeniable. Sometimes one day is enough to begin a shift.

Ready to Learn More? Our next horse-assisted workshops are open for registration now. Click on the Contact Us button below and let us know how we can help you find the workshop that is right for you.